Curtain calls: March performing arts performances

Feb. 26, 2018 11:05 AM PT

Performances taking the stage this March in San Diego include A Little Night Music, Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal, American Mariachi and Love Never Dies.

3.2-4: Stomp

The percussion-happy show drums its way across the Balboa Theatre stage for the first time in seven years.

Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown, 619.570.1100, broadwaysd.org

3.7-4.22: A Little Night Music

A champion of Stephen Sondheim’s works, Cygnet returns to the lyrical and bittersweet musical that opened the company’s Old Town space a decade ago.

Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town, 619.337.1525, cygnettheatre.com

3.10-11: Home of the Brave

Lee Cataluna’s play — the latest POP Tour piece for young audiences — explores the stories of kids from military families.

La Jolla Playhouse (public performances), 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla, 858.550.1010, lajollaplayhouse.org

3.15-4.15: The Happiest Place on Earth

Diversionary stages (or imagineers?) the West Coast premiere of Philip Dawkins’ story about dashed dreams and deliverance in a certain magic kingdom.

Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights, 619.220.0097, diversionary.org

3.17-25: Florencia en el Amazonas

The Mexican composer Daniel Catán draws on the writings of Gabriel García Márquez for this magical-realist musical foray into the lush lands of the Amazon.

San Diego Opera at the San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619.533.7000, sdopera.org

3.21-25: Crystal — A Breakthrough Ice Experience

Cirque du Soleil’s first ice production promises thrills and (literal) chills, with skaters, acrobats and more.

Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway District, 619.224.4171, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

Crystal will be Cirque du Soleil's first show on ice.

3.22-4.15: Beachtown

Resident playwright Herbert Siguenza concocts a world-premiere “immersive” work that has the audience voting on items to put in a beach community’s time capsule.

San Diego Repertory Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown, 619.544.1000, sdrep.org

3.23-4.29: American Mariachi

The world-premiere comedy by José Cruz González follows the adventures of an all-girl mariachi band in the 1970s.

Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234-5623, theoldglobe.org

3.23-4.22: King Charles III

The small Coronado company scores a big coup with the San Diego premiere of Mike Bartlett’s Tony Award-nominated, fictionalized twist on the saga of the British royal family.

Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way, Coronado, 619.435.4856, coronadoplayhouse.com

3.23-4.22: Men on Boats

NVA stages the regional premiere of Jaclyn Backhaus’ out-there comedy, which fields an all-female cast to reimagine John Wesley Powell’s 10-man Grand Canyon expedition in 1869.

New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State St., Carlsbad, 760.433.3245, newvillagearts.org

3.27-4.1: Love Never Dies

Yes, wiseacres have dubbed it “Paint Never Dries,” but if you’re a “Phantom of the Opera” fanatic, this sequel might be a must-see.

San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619.570.1100, broadwaysd.org

Arts | Culture

James Hebert

James Hebert is The San Diego Union-Tribune’s theater critic, and has covered the San Diego arts scene for more than two decades. He earned his master’s degree at Columbia University in New York and worked as a magazine editor in Boston before joining the U-T. Hebert’s awards include a national arts-writing prize from the Society for Features Journalism (for a profile of the choreographer Twyla Tharp), and some two dozen local and regional journalism honors; his work also has been republished in two college writing textbooks. In 2009, Hebert served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.